WLP011 European Ale Yeast

A malty northern European-origin ale yeast. Its low ester production gives it a clean profile, with little to no sulfur production. Low attenuation helps to contribute to the malty character. Good for altbiers, kölsch-style ales, malty English-style ales, and fruit beers.

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Characteristics

Attenuation:

65.00-70.00

Flocculation:

Medium

Alcohol Tolerance:

Medium (5 - 10%)

Optimum Fermentation Temperature:

65.00-70.00

Style Performance

Style performance is a listing of styles made with WLP011 European Ale Yeast .

Reviews

Feedback and experiences from previous customers. Want to leave a review of your own?

"Great yeast"

By: Simon Thibaudeau | Date: Jun 8, 2015 | Beer(s) Brewed: Kolsch

Made a yeast starter for a 15 gallon batch and used 2 flasks of the WL011. I used these since my homebrew store was out of the Kolsch yeast and we were brewing that style. I was afraid the final gravity would be higher than our target (1.010) since the attenuation is not as good as the Kolsch yeast. Well... we decided to mash at 149 to facilitate the yeast work but we missed our target. The first 30 minutes were at 152 but the second half of the mash was spot on at 149.
We fermented at 62F and when krauzen formed I increased the temperature by 1F every day until 166.
After 8 days the gravity is at 1.010, right on target!!! I am amazed how well the yeast responded and were actually able to reach our final gravity. The sample tasted awesome. Definitely malty and also fruity. Hopefully some of the fruitiness will fade away after the cold crash and we'll have a super clean beer. I am not too worried at this point and very confident the final product will be outstanding.

Thanks White Labs! another great strain!!!

Cheers from Montreal!

"Good for Biere de Garde, But Mash at Low Temp"

By: Mike | Date: Sep 6, 2014 | Beer(s) Brewed: Biere de Garde

Although the product specs say this is good for biere de garde, alt, kolsch; I think its low attenuation makes it somewhat less suitable (i.e., it's hard to hit appropriate final gravity for these styles using this yeast). As such, when I use this for biere de garde because French Ale yeast is not available, I use a two-step mash: saccharafication rest at 146-148F for 45 minutes, followed by a dextrin rest at 156F for 20 minutes. Then this yeast starts quickly and ferments vigorously, and I'm able to hit a low enough final gravity with an appropriate %ABV for the style.

"I think it is a better alternative than .. "

By: Grant | Date: Nov 19, 2012 |

This is the yeast I would recommend for anyone. I have brewed Kolsch, Alt, Scottish, and any other beers requiring a clean finish. If you make starters and use slurries then you will get a clean yet flavorful finish. I wish more breweries used this yeast. It can go low or high in the temp fermentation range without affecting the profile. If you don't have sophisticated temp control (like 90% of us homebrewers do not), this is important. I think it is a better alternative than 001 for many beers. I am curious to know the origin of this yeast. The White labs site says it comes from Northern Germany so that would be Alt or Kolsch. I did read somewhere that it came from Weihenstephan. Maybe that could also be true in that they cultured it? Any insights out there?

"... I had to install a blowoff tube ..."

By: teri robinson | Date: Jan 3, 2011 | Beer(s) Brewed: Irish Ale

After reading the reviews on this strain, I made a starter but could not use it the next day. It was kept in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. When I had time to brew the ale, I put the starter on the counter for 4-6 hours prior to pitching. About 3 hours after pitching there was activity. The next day there was so much kreusen that I had to install a blowoff tube because the airlock got clogged. Fermentation temp: 68F. White Labs' yeasts have always done well for me. I will continue to use their strains.

"Finished dry"

By: Shaun | Date: Mar 10, 2010 | Beer(s) Brewed: Kolsch

Brewed using this strain as I guessed it would ferment happy at a very low temperature to create a very clean beer. I was right. 2 weeks fermentation on a 1.046 Kolsch at 57 degrees, finished very clean, very clear, and very delicious. I was nervous, as it took about 60 hours to see activity in the fermenter. (almost 48 hours to see activity in a 1.030 starter) Never really got crazy active, but it fermented, flocculated, and attenuated very well. Finished dry - perfect for the style!

"I will definitely use this again ..."

By: Anonymous | Date: Jan 14, 2010 | Beer(s) Brewed: English Mild

This has been my go-to strain for my English Mild recipe for over a year now. As noted above, the strain is quite clean and really accentuates the malt profile in my recipe. My mild uses about 12% crystal malt and I mash-in at 154 deg F - so I do promote some residual sugar in my wort. Pitched from a 1L starter, my 1.050 beer will reach terminal gravity (1.018) within a week for 64% AA, which is just perfect in this mild recipe, and the attenuation is quite impressive given the high mash temp and significant amount of crystal malt. I can't recommend this strain enough for malt-driven lower abv beers!

"I will definitely use this again ..."

By: Leroy Gharis | Date: Jul 25, 2008 | Beer(s) Brewed: Pumpkin Ale

I used this with a 1.065 OG Pumpkin Ale with fresh pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and clove. The pumpkin and spice flavors come through very nicely. The beer came out very clear. I will definitely use this again when I brew spice and/or pumpkin ale again. I intend to brew pumpkin ales along with making pumpkin pies from fresh pumpkins an annual fall ritual.

"A wonderful surprise!"

By: Sam | Date: Apr 4, 2008 | Beer(s) Brewed: Scotch Ale, Irish Ale, Coffee Stout, Scottish 80-/

Been experimenting with this strain as an alternative to WLP028 (Edinburgh Scottish Ale): Attenuation statistics are no joke! Very slow ferment; passes kreusen within a week, last 1-2 Plato takes another one or two, if at all. Super clean, no esters, very low diacetyl, and at home in a cool cellar (63F), but too sweet thus far. I think it's worth tinkering more with. Indispensable with rich, super-low gravity styles (!) like Scottish and Mild ales; keep mash temps lower than usual. Last note: top cropping!? A wonderful surprise!

"... man it's worth the wait"

By: Dana R. | Date: Nov 8, 2007 | Beer(s) Brewed: Irish Red Ale

Had reservations about using this yeast for my first Red Ale, but it came out fantastic-- a real winner! I did not use a starter and sweated bullets for three days waiting for fermentation to begin. Then it took another three weeks to finish. Very slow, but man it's worth the wait! Will use again. I will use a starter next time. (OG was 1.059)

"...won a blue ribbon for it"

By: Ryan | Date: Sep 3, 2007 | Beer(s) Brewed: Pumpkin Beer, English Pale Ale

I've made my Pumpkin Beer for 3 years now with this yeast. Even won a blue ribbon for it. Malty, but lets other flavors shine through. I've had some problems with flocculation but nothing to stop me from using it. I love this yeast!

"... just perfect for this style"

By: Mike Ingram | Date: Jul 14, 2007 | Beer(s) Brewed: biere de garde

I used this strain in a biere de garde on a whim. It produced a malty ale with little tartness or spiciness, which is just perfect for the style. I am very pleased with it and will use it again for this beer style.

"What a wonderful result"

By: Ryan Frisch | Date: Oct 15, 2006 |

This yeast is great. I used it on a batch of Scottish ale. What a wonderful result. The beer was gone quick -- lots of requests from family. Thanks a bunch!

Fermentation Data

Isoamyl Alcohol:

177.94ppm

Ethyl Acetate:

25.94ppm

As-is Diacetyl:

1-Propanol:

29.22ppm

Total Diacetyl:

58.91ppb

Acetaldehyde:

12.39ppm

As-is 2,3-Pentanedione:

5.18ppb

Total 2,3-Pentanedione:

14.5ppb

Ethanol:

5.07%ABV

Isoamyl Acetate:

0.7ppm

Extra Batch Info:

Fermentation temperature: 68 °F
Attenuation: 79%
Hours to get to 50 percent attenuation: 28

Search

WLP011 European Ale Yeast

Horizontal Tabs

"Great yeast"

"Good for Biere de Garde, But Mash at Low Temp"

"I think it is a better alternative than .. "

"... I had to install a blowoff tube ..."

"Finished dry"

"I will definitely use this again ..."

"I will definitely use this again ..."

"A wonderful surprise!"

"... man it's worth the wait"

"...won a blue ribbon for it"

"... just perfect for this style"

"What a wonderful result"